Programme Specialist

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Job Description

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

UN Women Ethiopia’s Country Office Strategic Note (SN 2021-2025) is derived from and contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSCDF 2020-2025), which outlines the United Nations vision and strategic focus in Ethiopia. The UNSDCF supports the Government of Ethiopia’s (GoE) development and humanitarian priorities, as articulated in the Ten-Year Perspective Development Plan – Ethiopia 2030: The Pathways to Prosperity (2020 – 2030) and related national policies and plans. The SN’s orientation and thematic focus areas are grounded in UN Women’s global Strategic Plan (2021-2025) and aligned to major international and African regional development and gender commitments.

The UN Women Ethiopia Country Office’s program contributes to the UN’s shared goals in supporting the Government of Ethiopia to achieve its sustainable development and humanitarian priorities, and commitments to the 2030 Development Agenda. Four strategic priorities are identified in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2020-2025 that address multidimensional poverty, inequalities, social exclusion, and marginalization, with a focus on youth, women, and girls; supporting the transition to an inclusive and diversified economy; deepening Ethiopia’s democratic transition and promoting peace; and promoting a green and resilient economy. These priorities comprise the outcomes that the UN development system, including UN Women ECO, will work to accomplish.

As part of the contributions to the Ethiopian National Development Priorities in an inclusive manner, UN Women in Ethiopia work focuses on 5 strategic pillars in both development and humanitarian spheres : Women in leadership and governance , Women’s economic empowerment and Financing for Gender Equality through Gender Responsive Budgeting , Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls as well as Women’s engagement and participation in Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action .

These strategic priorities are implemented in targeted regions mainly through implementing partners but over the last 2 years UN Women has been establishing more proximity to communities through sub-offices and/or secondments. In addition to a technical secondment to Amhara Regional Bureau of Women and Social Affairs, A sub-office for Tigray regional state is operational since Mid-2023 and the next to open is Somali regional state UN Women Sub-office to implement UN Women priorities in both humanitarian action and development across Somali region.

Reporting to the Deputy Country Representative, the Programme Specialist /Head of Sub-Office for Somali region Analyst will lead the development , implementation and monitoring of UN Women Regional Programme for Somali regional state , f oversee and coordinate the implementation of UN Women’s priorities as part of the UNSDCF and Humanitarian Response Plan with the necessary localization for Somali context .

Duties and Responsibilities

Manage programme coordination and oversee programme implementation in the Somali region

In close coordination with the UN Women Country Office Programme Managers, provide leadership to efficient implementation of programme and project activities and the timely delivery of results against agreed upon work plans
Working closely with the programme leads and management support units, contribute to and participate in programme development, planning implementation and reporting requirements.
Identify programming opportunities based on urgent and emerging needs on the ground, and based on discussion with thematic leads, lead the development and management of these priority initiatives
Based on local assessments and operating conditions, provide substantive recommendations for the adaptation of programme and project activities as necessary
Lead emergency assessments and implement emergency response action plans when required
Coordinate and support programme and project monitoring against agreed upon results frameworks and performance indicators and prepare technical monitoring reports, as necessary and in close coordination with programmes and programme management support unit;
Facilitate discussion with programme teams and relevant units and partners with the aim of ensuring coherence and convergences of overall programmatic footprint.
Ensure effective internal communication and coordination of UN Women programming in Somali region and effective and proactive communication between the Country Office programme and operations Units ;
Coordinate and support programmatic missions from Addis Ababa based UN Women Country Office to Somali Office and facilitate interactions with local partners across Somali regional state.

Represent UN Women at the Somali regional state level and develop and manage UN Women’s strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement including UN systemwide inter Agency Programming and coordination on gender equality across the Humanitarian Development and Peace Nexus

Manage and coordinate relationships with key counter parts, especially representatives from women’s civil society, and provide technical inputs to efforts at the country level to develop new and innovative partnerships.
Represent UN Women in regional and local coordination mechanisms such as the Regional Humanitarian Team, Operational Team, Area Security Team etc
Fulfill the UN women Secretarial role by Collaborating with the Bureau of Women and Children and the Regional DRM to Convene and coordinate the Somali regional state level GiHA Technical WG and ensure participation in other relevant humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
Lead engagements with the regional Authorities in line with the agreed UN frameworks , with the aim of to ensure operational access for UN Women and its partners to effectively deliver for women and girls.
Maintain collaboration and coordination with other UN and humanitarian and basic human needs partners to ensure programmatic integration and sharing of best practices.
Establish effective communication channels with and ensure that stakeholders (humanitarian and basic human needs partners, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, civil society particularly WLOs/WROs, UN agencies, and others) have a consistent UN Women as counterpart at Somali regional state level

Lead technical support and capacity development to civil society partners.

Provide substantive technical support to partners in regard to programme planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Provide partners with training, and capacity development initiatives as needed.
In close consultation with the Programme Managers, lead and support identification of partners in the geographic area of responsibility.
Build relationships with local partners to support implementation and expansion of the country programme.
Respond to any potential bottlenecks and challenges and provide guidance on mitigation actions following consultations with the Senior Management of UN Women country Office for Ethiopia.
Manage capacity building opportunities and initiatives for key partners and stakeholders.

Provide region-specific advice, analysis, and support to foster evidence-based programming and communication

Provide periodic analysis of local socio-economic, political and security situations and trends as related to the situation of women and girls and communicate with the Country office Senior Management
Identify programming, advocacy and communications opportunities and entry points for UN Women and advise the UN Women Ethiopia Country Office on policies, programmes and strategies to adequately respond to local challenges and needs regarding gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Monitor the perception of UN Women at the local level and suggest and ensure that UN Women programming objectives and local programming results are effectively communicated in collaboration with the Communications Unit in the Country Office.
Contribute and coordinate the development of knowledge products and mechanisms to effectively position UN Women in the region.
Contribute to strategic planning processes for the UN Women programme in Ethiopia.

Manage Sub-Office staff and financial resources

Ensure smooth running of the Sub-Office, promote teamwork and an environment that is conducive to delivering results.
Ensure full responsibility for the appropriate use and management of resources attributed to the Sub-Office by tracking use of financial resources, ensuring the integrity of financial systems and consistent application of the Internal Control Framework and/or rules and regulations.
In collaboration with the Security Team, ensure that the security needs of office and programmes are met.
Mitigate possible risks and impacts associated with the Sub-Office programmes and operations by proactively designing and implementing mitigating measures in collaboration with the Deputy Country Representatives and Operations Manager.
Supervise and coach staff and manage performance.
Write terms of reference for new staff, consultants and contractors and oversee the recruitment process, as necessary

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/ women’s studies, international development, or a related field is required;
A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;
A project/programme management certification (such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) would be an added advantage;

Experience

At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level in management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian or development projects with a focus on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.
Experience in working on gender equality programming in a humanitarian setting;
Experience in establishing relationships among and working with international organizations, civil society organizations and local stakeholders;
Experience in leading a team is an asset;
Experience in administrative systems and UN system norms is an asset;
At least 3 years of working experience in Somali regional state of Ethiopia ;
Experience in working independently with minimal supervision

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